Oilcloth rack and measurer



Jan. 14, 1930. G. A. KOESTER 1,743,923

OIL CLOTH RACK AND MEASURER Filed June 11. 1923 40 v Koestfa' mvzu-ro ATTORNEY G. A. KOESTER 1,

OIL CLOTH RACK AND MEASURER Filed June 11. 1928 'Jan. 14, 1930.

55 522- pgw O '5? 1 0 Z Z I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY ED STATES,

longitudinal Patented Jan. 14, 1930 PATENT OFFICE GUSTAV A. KOESTER, E BATTLE CREEK, NEBRASKA OILCLOTH BACK AND MEASURE]?- My present invention has reference to a cabinet for displaying rolls of oil cloth, measuring the cloth as it is unwound from therol'l andpermitting the cuttlng of the cloth in desired lengths.

Theinvention will be fully and comprehensively understood from ,a consideration of the following detailed description-when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of thedrawings nor to the preclse "construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improvement, with parts in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an end view thereof with parts in section.

Figure 4 is an approximately central sectional view through the improvement.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the trunnions employed.

Figure 6 is a similar view of another trunnion employed.

Figure 7 is a detail transverse sectional View illustrating a slight modified form of cabinets. I

As disclosed by the drawings, my cabinet comprises a substantially rectangular mem ber 1 that has its face, for the maj or portion of itslength, open- For distinction the top of the cabinetis indicated by the numeral 2and the said top projects a suitable distance beyond the open face of the cabinet 1.

Secured in the cabinet between the sides thereof there is a downwardly directed outwardly inclined division plate 3 provided,

on its outer .face with spaced strips or plates 4; which are also connected to the sides of the cabinet. The strips or plates provide therebetweemthe rack of the improvement, and the partitions provided by the said rack thereare designed to be arranged rolls of oil 1928. Serial No. 284,411.

cloth. As the strips 4 are arranged at a downward angle with respect to the verticalplane ofthe cabinet 1, it will be noted that the rolls of oil cloth will be effectively sue:

tained'in the pockets provided by therack and fully displayed through the openface of the cabinet.

Below the rack there is arranged in the cabinet a transversely arranged floor 5 whose outer edge, in a line with the outer edge of the open face of the cabinet is formed with an upstanding flange 6. The plate or board 5, with its flanged end 6 provides a compartment 7 for the reception of remnants of oil cloth. i

Between the base 8 of the cabinet and the floor 5 of the compartment 7 there is a space which also affords a compartment 9. This compartment may be provided with drawers for the reception ofthe rolls on which the oil cloth is wound, or as disclosedby the drawings, the compartment 9 may have its outer face partly closed by an upstanding plate or strip 10 so as to afford thereabove an opening 12 for the compartment 9. i f Fixed at one of the rear corners to oneof the sides of the cabinet 1 there is a casing 13, and in this casing there is arranged a preferably'spring wound measuring tape 14.

The tape, of course, finds a passage through an opening in the top of the casing 13. If desired, the measuring tape may be 'wound by a suitable handle attached to the outer end of ashaft 15 for such tape.

On the corners of the top 2 and the side, thereof provided with the casing 13there are fixed upstanding brackets 16 and. 17, respectively. The outer bracket 17 ,has its base projecting beyond the side of the cab-,

inet and is formed with two upwardly ex tending parallel arms, between which there is journaled the shaft 18 for a reel 19 on which the outer end of the tape 14; is fixed. The shaft 18 has on its outer end an operating crank handle 20 and on its inner end a pin 21. The upstanding members of the bracket-s 17 are preferably notched to receive the shaft of the reel 19 therein, and the upstanding element on the rear bracketlfi is likewise notched to receive therein the reduced end of a removable trunnion 22.

On the top, adjacent to the second or opposite side of the cabinet 1 there is arranged a substantially L-shaped member or bracket. The horizontal flange of this bracket has fixed on its outer edge, adjacent to its ends, upstanding flanges 23, and 24, respectively, each of which being notched from the upper edge in a line with the center thereof. The horizontal flange of the bracket is for distinction indicated by the numeral 26 and rests directly on the top of the cabinet. The flange 26 has passed therethrough one or more headed bolts 27 which also pass through longitudinal slots 28 in the top 2 of the cabinet. These bolts are engaged by wing nuts 29, the nuts being accessible throu h the open face of the cabinet 1.

In are showing of the drawings, I have illustrated only one nut as the connecting means between the top 2 and the bracket plate.

The top 2, to the rear of the opening 28, is provided with a second longitudinally extending opening 30 and in this opening there is fixed for slidable movement the nonshar ened or shank portion 31 of a knife mem r 32, the blade of which having on its upper or outer end a suitable handle 33. The shank 31 of the cutting element or blade is removably secured in the opening 80 there being a nut 34 screwed on the lower end of the said shank and contacting with a washer that in turn contacts with the inner face of the top 2.

Normally the knife or cutting element is arranged at one end of the slot 30, and the shank portion 31 thereof is of sufficient width to prevent the wobbling of the said knife when the same is drawn transversely over the top 2 through the opening 30.

Each roll 35 of oil cloth is designed to be wound around a tube 36. In the ends of the tube there are arranged the conical ends of trunnions 37. These trunnions have reduced rounded outer ends 38 that are re-' ceived in the notches in the upstanding elements of the rear brackets. Other tubes 40 are disposed between the upstanding elements of the front brackets. These tubes 40 have inserted in their ends the conical ends of trunnions which for distinction are indicated by the'numerals 41 and 42, respectively. The trunnion 41 has a reduced rounded extension 43 that is received in the notched upstanding element of the bracket plate 26. The trunnion 41 has fixed thereon one end of a downwardly arched spring clip 44.

' he trunnion 42 which has its pointed or conical end received in the second end of the tube 40 has a round bore 45 in which the inner end of the shaft 18 is received, the said trunnion having a slot 46 that communicates with its bore and in which slot the pin or lug on the shaft 18, passes. The trunnion 42 is provided with a spring clip 47 which is similar to the spring clip 44. By loosening the nut or nuts 29 the bracket plate 26 may be adjusted with respect to the brackets 16 and 17 so that different lengths of rolled oil cloth may be supported upon the brackets. As one end of the measuring tape is connected with the reel 4, a portion of the oil clot-h drawn off of the roll 36 and clamped on the roll 40 by the spring clamps 44 and 47 on the trunnions 41 and 42, will be measured. Thereafter it is merely necessary for the operator to turn the handle 20 and by observing the markings on the tape line will have visible indications as to the exact amount of oil cloth drawn off of the roll 36 and wound on the roll 40. When the desired amount of cloth is reached, the operator grasps the handle of the cutting element 32 and moves the same longitudinally through the slot 30, thus severing the measured length of oil cloth from the remainder of the roll. The rolls 36 and 40 are preferably in the nature of cardboard tubes and with my improvement it will be noted that the measured amount of oil cloth is neatly rolled in its delivery to the customer. After the cloth has been severed and removed from the device, the roll of oil cloth on the rear of the cabinet is removed from the brackets and again replaced in one of the pockets provided by the rack for further display.

In Figure 7 I have illustrated a cabinet that is slightly different in construction than that previously described, inasmuch as the said cabinet has both of its faces open and has secured therein oppositely inclined partition plates 3 formed at equidistantly spaced and determined intervals with outwardly inclined cleats 4. These provide racks at both of the faces of the cabinet, and with this construction the cabinet may be used in the middle of the floor although the same may likewise be used when arranged against a wall. Also in this connection it may be stated that if desired the cabinet may be arranged on rollers or caster wheels so that the same may be readily moved when occasion requires.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A cabinet for oil cloth having an open face and a display rack opposite said face, notched brackets on the top and rear of the cabinet, notched brackets at the front and rear of the cabinet, means for adjusting the last mentioned brackets with respect to the first mentioned brackets, means for holding the last mentioned brackets when so adjusted, removable trunnions journaled in the notches of the rear brackets designed to be received in the tube on which oil cloth is rolled, a spring wound measuring a tape cased in one side of the bracket, a reel having a shaft journaledl in one of the notched brackets at the front of the frame and on which the end of the tape is wound, the shaft of the reel having an outer handle portion'and its inner end formed with a lug, a trunnion having a bore to receive the said end of the shaft and having a notch for the reception of the lug therein, and a spring clamp on the trunnion to engage with the oil cloth unwound from the roll and arranged on the tube, a trunnion in the a second notched bracket at the front of the cabinet received in the second end of the tube and having a spring clamp to sustain the unwound end of the oil cloth thereon, the top of the cabinet having a transverse opening therethrough, a severing blade having an outer handle portion and an inner shank portion which is received through the opening, movable therein but sustained from side or lateral movement therein.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature.

GUSTAV A. KOESTER. 

